Leviticus 21:10

Overview - Leviticus 21
Of the priests' mourning.
Of their holiness.
Of their marriages.
Of their estimation.
Of the priest's daughter convicted of whoredom.
10 Of the high priest's holiness.
13 Of his marriage.
16 The priests that have blemishes must not minister in the sanctuary.
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Leviticus 21:10  (King James Version)
And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
 


upon
8:12 10:7 16:32 Exodus 29:29 Exodus 29:30 ; Numbers 35:25 ; Psalms 133:2

consecrated
8:7-9 Exodus 28:2-4

uncover
Leviticus 10:6 Leviticus 10:7 13:45 2 Samuel 15:30 ; Esther 6:12

not rend
Genesis 37:34 ; Job 1:20 ; Matthew 26:65
All human corpses were considered as unclean. Whoever touched one was unclean for seven days, and was obliged on the third and seventh day to purify himself according to the Mosaic instructions. In the case of the priest it went still farther; insomuch, that even mourning for the dead by any external sign, such as tearing their clothes, defiled them. Hence such mournings were absolutely forbidden to be used in any case, and by the other priests also, except in the case of their very nearest relations, for whom they were allowed to mourn. This statue is founded on the importance of sustaining the decency and purity of Divine worship. The servants of the Deity were to keep themselves at a distance from every thing that in the least degree savoured of uncleanness.